Quadrature birdcage coil with distributed capacitors for 7.0 T magnetic resonance data acquisition of small animals

High static magnetic field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is commonlyused for preclinical studies in rodents. In this context, minimization of coil losses is man-datory to scan samples that are small compared to the radiofrequency wavelength in themedium. In this study we construct a radiofrequency (RF) birdcage probe with distrib-uted capacitors, operating in quadrature, tailored for 7.0T1H MRI of small animals. Thedesign eliminates the need for extra electrical components on the probe structure andaffords a high SNR, a uniform B11field (homogeneity of 93% in the axial plain of thephantom) and a coil sensitivity of 9.8lT=ffiffiffiffiWp. Feasibility experiments of mouse imagingare conducted and the competitive capability of a 7.0 T human system equipped withthe proposed coil is demonstrated in both body and brain preclinical imaging.VC2015Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Concepts Magn Reson Part B (Magn Reson Engineering) 44B:83–88, 2015